Theatrical transportation apparatus



Nov. 4, 1969 P. s. FOY 3,476,385

THEATRICAL TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS I4 I Filed Oct. 23, 1965 P5752 S.Fay

INVENTOR.

JSZGBY United States Patent 3,476,385 THEATRICAL TRANSPORTATIONAPPARATUS Peter S. Foy, Los Angeles County, Calif. (3679 Tioga Way, LasVegas, Nev. 89109) Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,853 Int. Cl. A63j5/00 US. Cl. 272-24 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to personnel transporting apparatus and more particularly to anovel theatrical personnel carrier or transportation rig adapted tovertically and transversely position or locate a performer across astaging area in order to achieve special theatrical and illusionaryeffect for the benefit of a viewing audience.

In the entertainment industry, it is oftentimes necessary to transportacting personnel about a stage to represent the appearance ofunsupported suspension simulating the effects of flying, hovering,swimming or other similar special effects. Representative of suchtheatrical requirements are found in programming flying ballets,swimming effects for motion pictures, the performance of the well knownplay Peter Pan and other forms of theatrical presentations.

Various conventional overhead trolley and conveyor systems which suspenda performer from the end of a wire have been employed in the past tolift and transport acting personnel about a stage and which haveemployed simple pulley and line arrangements. However, various problemsand difficulties have been encountered with such prior systems whichstem largely from the fact that precision maneuvering and orientation ofthe actor or performer about the stage cannot be properly achieved in asatisfactory manner which is realistic, convenient and safe for theperformer. In one system, the performer may be readily lifted from thestage floor but substantial swinging of the performer is encounteredwhich greatly hampers precise maneuvering and prevents the desirablefeature of spotting a swinging performer at a particular point or spoton the stage. In other prior systems, the performer may be preciselymaneuvered but a substantial portion of the conveying or transportationequipment is exposed to the view of the audience which, obviously,negates the theatrical illusion intended to be presented. Also, twistingof the pulley system lines sometimes occurs which jams the pulleys andrequires additional attention and handling.

Accordingly, the personnel transportation apparatus of the presentinvention incorporates a stationary overhead monorail track with adownwardly depending movable carriage for effecting transverse orlateral orientation of a performer about a staging area and having atruck movably mounted on the carriage for determining the height of theperformer from the stage floor. A pulley system is employed toindependently actuate the movement of the carriage and the truck so thatapparatus possesses both lateral and vertical movement to selectivelymaneuver a performer in any part of a square or rectangular viewingplane representing the normal viewing area exposed to an audience. Byemploying an independently actuated carriage and track mechanism, thepulley system can be operated in such a manner that no portion of theapparatus appears in the viewing plane exposed to the audience.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide apersonnel transportation apparatus for achieving special theatricaleffects which is capable of transporting an actual performer in aviewing plane about a stage area in such a fashion that precisetransverse and vertical movement can be achieved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel personneltransportation apparatus for use in connection with theatricalperformances wherein the apparatus may be hidden from the view of anaudience without interfering with efforts to precisely maneuver, orientand locate the performer within a vertical viewing plane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel personnelflying rig which employs a movable carriage for effecting transversemovement of the performer in mid-air about a staging area and whichincorporates a separate truck movable on the carriage to effect liftingand vertical positioning of the performer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelpersonnel flying rig which employs dual rectilinear movable membersdownwardly depending from a stationary monorail track which areseparably operable to position a performer suspended by a line about avertical viewing plane so as to achieve various theatrical andillusionary effects.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a noveltheatrical personnel transportation rig which is economical tomanufacture, simple to operate and which will accommodate a variety ofillusionary effects or the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novelpersonnel transportation apparatus which employs a pair of line andpulley systems which cooperate to position a performer in a verticalplane whereby the arrangement of the pulley systems avoid twisting andjamming of the pulley system as is sometimes encountered with prior artarrangements.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the novel personneltransportation apparatus of the present invention illustrating theseparate means for effecting vertical and lateral positioning of aperson suspended from a wire within the confines of a typical stagingarea;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of 3 FIGURE 1 which moreclearly illustrates the dual pulley system employed in the apparatusthereof;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the personnel transportationapparatus shown in FIGURE 1, as taken in the direction of arrow 33; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another embodiment ofthe present invention for effecting vertical positioning of theperformer.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a personnel transportation apparatusemployed for theatrical productions in accordance with the presentinvention is shown as indicated in the general direction of arrow 10.The apparatus is illustrated in connection with the supporting of andfor achieving the positioning of a performer 11 in a vertical viewingplane which is exposed to an audience and which is shown as beingdefined by the broken lines indicated by numeral 12. In actualoperation, the viewing area may be defined by curtains, scenery, cameraview finders or the like so that the apparatus of the present inventionis completely hidden when not in use and when the apparatus is beingemployed for performer positioning during performances such as flyingballets or similar theatrical special effects.

In general, the present invention includes an elongated monorail track13 which is fixed to suitable supporting structure such as is indicatedby numeral 14 via brackets 15 and 16 secured on opposite ends of the boxrail 13. To obtain lateral positioning or maneuvering of the performer11, a movable carriage 17 is employed which is downwardly depending fromthe rail 13 and is adapted to move rectilinearly between its oppositeends. For mobility, the carriage 17 includes a pair of spaced apartsupports 18 which are fixed On one end to the opposite ends of thecarriage 17 and which project upwardly through a guide slot 20, asillustrated in FIGURE 3, and which terminates in the mounting of an axle21. The opposite ends of the axle are provided with rotating rollers 22which are adapted to travel in parallel track portions 23 and 24respectively, formed in the box rail 13. Therefore, the carriage 17 ismovable between the opposite ends of the monorail track 13 by means ofthe rollers 22 which travel in the track portions 23 and 24 on oppositeends of the carriage. By employing dual rollers on the opposite ends ofthe carriage, the lateral movement of the performer 11 is greatlystabilized and a relatively smooth and non-swinging movable supportingmeans is provided during such lateral maneuvering.

With respect to the pulley system for effecting lateral movement of thecarriage 17, it is noted that a shaft 30 is fixed on the extreme end ofthe rail 13 and that parallel support members 31 are provided on theother end of the rail 13. The shaft 30 is employed for supporting apulley wheel 32 which is oriented to rotate in a horizontal plane. Theplane of rotation of pulley 32 is in direct alignment with the carriage17 and a pair of pulleys 33 and 34 which are rotatably mounted on thebrackets 31 and which are adapted to rotate in a vertical plane in fixedspaced apart relationship. The rotatable mounting for the pulleys 33 and34 are coaxially disposed with respect to one another. An anchoringpulley 35 completes the pulley system for effecting lateral movement andis suitably anchored to a fixed support 36 by means of a suitableattachment means 37 It is to be particularly noted than an endless line38 is selectively trained over the pulley system which has one endthereof attached to one end of the carriage 17 via a connecting fixture40 and the opposite end of the line 38 secured to the other end of thecarriage 17 via a connecting fixture 41. Therefore, it can be seen thatby pulling a line portion 42 downwardly, the carriage will be actuatedto the right with respect to the viewing plane to the audience.Conversely, when a line portion 43 is pulled in a downward direction,the carriage 17 will be actuated to move to the left hand side of thesame viewing plane. Therefore, complete lateral movement of the carriageis etfected between the right and left hand sides of the staging areadefining the viewing plane.

A particular feature of the present invention resides in the fact thatthe vertical positioning and lifting of the performer 11 is achieved byindependent means separate from the later moving means. The verticalpositioning or lifting means includes a movable truck 44 which isprovided with a downwardly depending yoke 45 on one end thereof and anaxle and roller assembly indicated by numeral 46 secured to its otherend which is similar to the roller arrangement on the carriage 17mounted on the monorail 13. It is to be noted that the carriage 17includes a pair of track portions 47 and 48 for receiving and guidingthe roller arrangement 46 in a fashion similar to the track portions 23and 24 carried by the rail 13. The yoke 45 is employed for rotatablymounting a pulley 50 which is adapted to move on its roller assemblage46 across the entire length of the carriage 17 from one end to itsopposite end.

Inasmuch as the vertical positioning of the performer 11 involveslifting of weight, mechanical advantage is introduced into the verticalmaneuvering system by employing a pair of downwardly depending pulleys51 and 52 which are rotatably supported by brackets indicated bynumerals 53 and 54 secured to the opposite ends of the carriage 17 sothat the pulleys 51 and 52 are separated from one another in fixedspaced apart relationship. Another pulley 55 is rotatably mounted on thebracket 31 and is included in the pulley arrangement comprising thevertical positioning means. To complete the pulley system, a line 56 isemployed which is trained over the pulleys as shown more clearly inFIGURE 2 and having one end thereof attached to the extreme end of theshaft 30 in fixed spaced relationship to the pulley 32 and wherein theopposite end of the line 56 terminates with a weighted anchor 57. It isto be noted that, thus far, the line and pulley system employed forvertical movement is eifective to move the truck 44 between pulley 51and pulley 52 in a horizontal mode of operation. However, thishorizontal movement of truck 44 is translated into vertical positioningof the performer 11 by means of a line 57 which is trained over pulley51 and having one of its opposite ends secured to the pulley 50 by meansof a connection fixture 58 and having its opposite end detachablyconnected to a suitable harness 60 which is Worn about the hips andshoulders of the performer 11. By employing a hip harness, the performerhas complete flexibility and mobility of his extremities so that avariety of movements and motions can be accommodated withoutencountering interference with either the supporting line 57 or thepersonnel transportation apparatus in general.

Therefore, it can be seen that the movement of the truck 44 between thepulleys 51 and 52 has the etfect of raising and lowering the performerwith respect to the stage floor by means of lengthening and shorteningthe distance between the performer 11 and the pulley 51 via line 57. Adistinct mechanical advantage is gained by employing the movable pulley50 in conjunction with the fixed pulleys 52, 55 and the fixed end ofline 56 with the shaft 30. A feature of the invention resides in thefact that the distance between pulley 50 and 52 remains constant nomatter where the carriage 17 is moved laterally until the lift line 56is raised or lowered. Furthermore, it is to be noted that to raise theperformer 11, it is necessary to move a line portion 61 of the line 56in a downward direction which will cause the pulley 50 to move towardthe pulley 52 which draws the line 57 over the pulley 51 to raise theperformer. However, the performer is lowered by means of his own weightwhen the line portion 61 is released and the weighted anchor 57 serves adamper or counter-balance to prevent the performer from lowering toorapidly.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, a modification for the vertical maneuveringmeans is illustrated for particularly increasing the available verticallift without the necessity of increasing the length of the carriagetrack. This means incorporates a truck 65 having a dual set of rollers66 rectilinearly operating on a track 67 carried by a box carriage 68.The truck inciludes a pair of fixed pulleys 69 and 70' which are securedthereto by means of rotatable connections on the opposite ends ofparallel support plates 71. The system is somewhat similar to thevertical positioning system shown in FIGURE 2 with the exception thatpulley 69 has been added to the truck and the line 72 has one of itsends terminating in a fixed connection 73 with a pulley wheel supportbracket 74 while its opposite end terminates in a pivotal connectionwith the supporting harness worn by the performer (not shown). To someextent, the mechanical advantage of the lift system of FIGURE 1 isdecreased; however, a definite increase is gained in the amount oflifting power permissible with the limited length of the lower track 67.

For the foregoing, it can be seen that a novel apparatus is provided forvertically and laterally positioning a performer within the view planeexposed to an audience. The apparatus employs a dual independentlyoperated pulley system which incorporates a first movable carriagesupported from a rail for determining lateral positioning and a secondmovable track supported from the carriage for effecting verticalpositioning. Such apparatus has greatly improved the technical andtheatrical effects oftentimes demanded by modern entertainmentprogramrning.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A theatrical personnel transportation apparatus for positioning aperformer in a vertical viewing plane having a portion thereof exposedto a viewing audience comprising:

an elongated stationary monorail lying in the vertical viewing plane outof view of the audience;

a movable carriage downwardly depending from said monorail and beingadapted to move between the opposite ends thereof;

a movable truck downwardly depending from said carriage and adapted tomove between the opposite ends thereof;

a first pulley system having a plurality of pulley wheels and a linetrained over said wheels wherein the opposite ends of said line areconnected to the respective opposite ends of said carriage so that saidcarriage may be selectively moved along said monorail;

a second pulley system having a plurality of pulley wheels and a linetrained over said wheels wherein one end of said line is attached to oneend of said monorail and the remainder of said line is looped over afixed pulley connected to said carriage and a movable pulley connectedto said truck so that said truck may be selectively moved along saidcarriage; and

a third pulley system having a pulley wheel and a line trained thereoverwherein the opposite ends of said line are connected to said truck andto the performer respectively whereby the performer is supported inmid-air from said monorail so that the performer may be maneuveredvertically and laterally within the vertical viewing plane exposed tothe audience in response to movement of said truck and said carriagerespectively.

2. A theatrical personnel transportation apparatus for maneuvering aperformer about a stage in a vertical viewing plane exposed to a viewingaudience, the combination comprising:

an elongated box-like stationary monorail lying in the vertical viewingplane over the stage out of audience view and having a pair of parallelspaced apart tracks extending from one end of said monorail to its otherend so that said tracks define a slot therebetween;

a movable carriage having the same cross section as said monorail sothat a pair of parallel spaced apart tracks are provided with anelongated slot defined therebetween;

said carriage including brackets disposed within said monorail slot andhaving rollers carried thereon adapted to ride in said pair of monorailtracks so as to downwardly movably support said carriage from saidmonorail;

a movable truck having rollers adapted to ride in said pair of carriagetracks so as to downwardly movably support said truck from saidcarriage;

a first pulley system having a plurality of pulley wheels and a linetrained over said wheels wherein the opposite ends of said line areconnected to the respective opposite ends of said carriage so that saidcarriage may be selectively moved along said monorail;

said carriage having two fixed pulley wheels each secured respectivelyto one of the opposite ends thereof;

said truck having pulley wheel means secured thereto adapted to travelin a rectilinear path between said fixed pulley wheels on said carriageends;

a line secured at one end to one end of said monorail and being trainedover said fixed pulley wheel located on the end of said carriageopposite to its end nearest to said monorail end having said linesecured thereto and looped over at least a part of said truck pulleywheel means so that a loop is provided which opens and closes as saidtruck moves;

a harness worn by the performer; and

a lift line connected at one end to said harness and trained over saidfixed pulley wheel located on said carriage end nearest to the end ofsaid monorail to which said above mentioned line is secured and beingoperatively coupled to said truck whereby the performer is supported inmid-air above the stage so that the performer may be maneuveredvertically in response to movement of said truck and laterally inresponse to movement of said carriage within the vertical viewing planeexposed to the audience so that special theatrical effects may beachieved.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the end of said linehaving its opposite end connected to said harness is secured to saidtruck.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said truck pulley wheelmeans includes a second pulley wheel secured to said truck and whereinthe end of said line having its opposite end connected to said harnessis trained over said second pulley Wheel and terminates in fixedconnection to the mounting of said fixed pulley wheel carried on the endof said carriage nearest to the end of said monorail to which said truckoperating line is attached.

5. A personnel transportation apparatus comprising:

an elongated stationary track;

a movable carriage supported on said track;

a movable truck supported on said carriage;

a first pulley system including a line secured to said carriage formoving said carriage along said track;

a second pulley system incorporating said truck and said carriageincluding a line for moving said truck on said carriage; and

personnel supporting means including a third pulley system incorporatingsaid carriage and said truck including a pulley wheel carried on saidcarriage and a line trained thereover operably coupled to said truckwhereby personnel supported therefrom may be positioned laterally inresponse to movement of 7 8 said carriage and positioned vertically inresponse to 1,305,631 6/ 1919 Travell. movement of d truck- 1,895,7211/1933 May z7z 61 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 whereln saidpersonnel supporting line includes two ends, one FOREIGN PATENTS of saidends fixed to the personnel and the other of said ends fixed to saidtruck. 5 342,860 10/1921 Germany- 7. The invention as defined in claim 5wherein said personnel supporting line includes two ends, one ANTONOECHSLE Pnmary Exammer of said ends fixed to the personnel and the otherof A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner said ends fixed to said carriage. 10

US. Cl. X.R. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,267,211 5/1918Gostin 27224

